Suborder Odontoceti

Head is proportionally larger than that of any other odontocete Distinctive Features Largest odontocete Males – 50 feet long Females – 36 feet long Champion diver Head is proportionally larger than that of any other odontocete https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsDwFGz0Okg

Can be almost 10 feet in length Male narwhal Tusk Left canine Spirals Can be almost 10 feet in length https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2017/may/12/narwhals-new-footage-reveals-possible-purpose-for-mysterious-tusk-video

Beluga whales – “Sea canaries” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS2-8skrxUQ

Suborder Odontoceti, Family Ziphiidae Members Beaked whales Distinctive Features Champion divers Narrow rostrum Two conspicuous throat grooves

Distinctive Features Shallow or non-existent notch between the tail flukes Dorsal fin set well back on the body

Extensive skull asymmetry Distinctive Features Extensive skull asymmetry https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/03/07/one-of-the-worlds-rarest-whales-has-been-caught-on-film-for-the-first-time/?utm_term=.4c52e062cade

Suborder Odontoceti, Family Delphinidae

Cephalorhynchus spp. < 5.6 feet in length Haviside’s dolphin Chilean dolphin Cephalorhynchus spp. < 5.6 feet in length Hector’s dolphin Commerson’s dolphin

Suborder Odontoceti, Family Delphinidae

Orcinus orca – killer whales 29.5 feet long

Distinctive features Generally fast and streamlined Pronounced beak or rostrum

Distinctive features Cone-shaped teeth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHYGt9Ykjog

Suborder Odontoceti, Family Phocoenidae Members Porpoises

Very small (< 7.2 feet in length) Small flippers No beak Distinctive features Very small (< 7.2 feet in length) Small flippers No beak Laterally compressed teeth http://cetus.ucsd.edu/voicesinthesea_org/videos/videoVaquitaMeet.html

Suborder Odontoceti, Family Platanistidae Members “River dolphins”

Suborder Odontoceti, Family Platanistidae Members “River dolphins” Distinctive features < 8 feet long Long, narrow forceps-like beak

Distinctive features Spatulate flippers Small eyes Flexible neck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkdCbpZcR9M